Posted: Dec 19, 2015
Palomar rolls past Pirates to win Coast Christmas Classic
Palomar
(10-2)
80
Orange Coast
(7-6)
68
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Palomar (10-2) | 20 | 22 | 18 | 20 | 80 |
|
Orange Coast (7-6) | 14 | 14 | 20 | 20 | 68 |
COSTA MESA -- For the first time in 15 years, there is a back-to-back champion at the Erin Tomlinson Coast Christmas Classic, thanks to Palomar College's 80-68 win over Orange Coast on Saturday night inside the Peterson Gym.
The Pirates (7-6) put forth a tremendous effort, but the Comets (10-2) just kept coming and coming and deeper and extremely talented Comet bench proved too much to overcome for the hosts.
All-tournament selections Jenna Rodriguez (17 points, 15 rebounds) and Chyann Pendergrass (16 points, five assists) led the way for the Pirates, while Roshell Lamug (14 points, five rebounds) earned tournament MVP honors for her play throughout the three-day event. Quinesha Vanhook (18 points and Chelse Ayala (nine points, four assists) also earned all-tourney honors for the Comets.
Palomar jumped out to a 42-28 halftime lead and ripped off a 7-2 run to start the third, padding its advantage to 49-30.
But Coast came back and scored 11 straight points to bring the Pirates back to within eight at 49-41. OCC stayed within eight at 51-43 but could not get any closer as the Comets held the Pirates to just five points the rest of the way.
In other Coast Christmas Classic action ...
Irvine Valley 68, Saddleback 60 -- In the third-place game, the Gauchos (5-8) pushed the Lasers (9-4) to the edge, but in the end, IVC held on for the win. Morgan Bryant earned all-tourney honors after leading the Lasers with 15 points, nine rebounds and five steals. Saddleback's Teoncea Bennett led Saddleback with 19 points, four steals and four assists and also earned a spot on the all-tourney team.
Canyons 77, El Camino 55 -- An ice-cold second quarter did in the Warriors (8-5) on Saturday as the Cougars (7-4) rolled to the consolation title win. COC outscored ECC 22-6 in the second quarter and never looked back. Monica Friedl earned all-tourney honors after tying the tournament record with 37 points for the Cougars. All-tourney pick Meghan Peneueta led the Warriors with 23 points.
2015 Coast Christmas Classic All-Tournament Team
- Meghan Peneueta, El Camino
- Monica Friedl, Canyons
- Teoncea Bennett, Saddleback
- Morgan Bryant, Irvine Valley
- Chyann Pendergrass, Orange Coast
- Jenna Rodriguez, Orange Coast
- Chelse Ayala, Palomar
- Quinesha Vanhook, Palomar
- MVP -- Roshell Lamug, Palomar
